Hand-held cleaning device

Abstract

A fluid-containing brush has a housing ( 11 ) with a generally cylindrical wall closed at one end by a base carrying brush bristles ( 25 ) and at the other by a cap ( 50 ) formed of resilient material, the housing defining a fluid reservoir, the base having a central opening therein closed by a valve member for dispensing liquid to the brush bristles, and a valve stem ( 31 ) which extends up to an underside of the cap ( 50 ) the housing and cap being adapted to provide a fluid tight seal therebetween, and the cap having a deformable portion constituting a button ( 58 ) by which the user can actuate the valve to dispense cleaning fluid.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A hand-held cleaning device comprising a housing constituting a reservoir for cleaning fluid and carrying cleaning means for contacting an object or surface to be cleaned, a lower aperture through which cleaning fluid may pass closed by valve means which is operable by a user, an upper opening through which cleaning fluid may be introduced, wherein the housing has a side wall which is provided in a region of an upper end of the side wall with an outwardly extending circumferential lip, and a removable cap closing the upper opening formed of resilient material and adapted to provide a fluid-tight seal with the housing, the cap having on its underside a circumferential groove into which said circumferential lip fits, and the cap having a portion which is deformable by a user, a part of the valve means extending to said portion whereby a user can operate the valve means on deformation of said portion. 
     
     
       2. A cleaning device according to claim  1  wherein a diameter of the lip is slightly larger than a diameter of the groove whereby, when fitted, the cap is in tension so that a tight seal is formed therebetween. 
     
     
       3. A hand-held cleaning device comprising a housing constituting a reservoir for cleaning fluid and carrying cleaning means for contacting an object or surface to be cleaned, a lower aperture through which cleaning fluid may pass closed by valve means which is operable by a user, an upper opening through which cleaning fluid may be introduced, wherein the housing has a side wall which is provided in a region of an upper end of the side wall with an outwardly extending circumferential lip, and a removable cap closing the upper opening formed of resilient material and adapted to provide a fluid-tight seal with the housing, the cap having a portion which is deformable by a user, a part of the valve means extending to said portion whereby a user can operate the valve means on deformation of said portion, wherein the housing further defines at its uppermost end a neck of reduced diameter defining said upper opening and which is formed with a circumferential bead. 
     
     
       4. A cleaning device according to claim  3  where the cap is supported in its entirety underneath by a portion of the housing, except under that portion which overlies the upper opening. 
     
     
       5. A hand-held cleaning device comprising a housing constituting a reservoir for cleaning fluid and carrying cleaning means for contacting an object or surface to be cleaned, a lower aperture through which cleaning fluid may pass closed by valve means which is operable by a user, an upper opening through which cleaning fluid may be introduced, wherein the housing has a side wall which is provided in a region of an upper end of the side wall with an outwardly extending circumferential lip, and a removable cap closing the upper opening formed of resilient material and adapted to provide a fluid-tight seal with the housing, the cap having a portion which is deformable by a user, a part of the valve means extending to said portion whereby a user can operate the valve means on deformation of said portion, wherein said valve means comprises a valve stem which extends through the housing to the cap and having an end portion which lies adjacent an inner surface of the deformable portion of the cap, and said valve means includes a valve member arranged on an end of the valve stem which sits in a valve seat, the valve stem being biased by resilient means towards the cap so that the valve member engages in the valve seat. 
     
     
       6. A hand-held cleaning device comprising a housing constituting a reservoir for cleaning fluid and carrying cleaning means for contacting an object or surface to be cleaned, a lower aperture through which cleaning fluid may pass closed by valve means which are operable by a user, an upper opening through which cleaning fluid may be introduced, wherein the housing has a side wall which is provided in a region of an upper end of the side wall with an outwardly extending circumferential lip, and a removable cap closing the upper opening formed of resilient material and adapted to provide a fluid-tight seal with the housing, the cap having a portion which is deformable by a user, a part of the valve means extending to said portion whereby a user can operate the valve means on deformation of the said portion, wherein the cap is provided with a cylindrical skirt portion depending from the inner surface thereof in which an end portion of the valve stem is received. 
     
     
       7. A cleaning device according to claim  2  wherein there is formed a circular groove in an outer surface of the cap defining a deformable button portion. 
     
     
       8. A cleaning device according to claim  1  wherein the cap is formed of a synthetic rubber. 
     
     
       9. A cleaning device according to claim  1  wherein the cap is formed of an elastomer. 
     
     
       10. A hand-held cleaning device comprising a housing constituting a reservoir for cleaning fluid and carrying cleaning means for contacting an object or surface to be cleaned, a lower aperture through which cleaning fluid may pass closed by valve means which are operable by a user, an upper opening through which cleaning fluid may be introduced, and a removable cap closing the upper opening formed of resilient material and adapted to provide a fluid-tight seal with the housing, the cap having a portion which is deformable by a user, a part of the valve means extending to said portion, wherein the cap is provided with a cylindrical skirt portion depending from an inner surface thereof in which an end portion of the valve means is received, the skirt having an inclined interior surface portion whereby a user can operate the valve means on deformation of the said portion and the inclined interior surface of the skirt guides the portion of the valve means upon release of the portion of the cap. 
     
     
       11. A hand-held cleaning device comprising a housing constituting a reservoir for cleaning fluid and carrying cleaning means for contacting an object or surface to be cleaned, a lower aperture through which cleaning fluid may pass closed by valve means which is operable by a user, an upper opening through which cleaning fluid may be introduced, and a removable cap closing the upper opening formed of resilient material and adapted to provide a fluid-tight seal with the housing, the cap having a portion which is deformable by a user, a part of the valve means extending to said portion whereby a user can operate the valve means on deformation of said portion, wherein the housing further defines at its uppermost end a neck of reduced diameter defining said upper opening and which is formed with a circumferential bead, said cap defining an annular surface that engages said neck with said circumferential bead thereof tightly fitting against said annular surface.